Why No Excuse

No Excuse is a blog focusing on poverty and poverty issues in Hamilton, Ontario. Look here daily for news items, events, resources, and a chance to engage in discussions with others on local poverty issues. No Excuse was originally staff-written when it was launched in 2007 as part of the Hamilton Spectator's Poverty Project, but it is now a community blog written by people who come from all walks of city life, but share a deep concern for poverty issues. See "Who Are We" for more information about our authors.

May 2009

May 26, 2009

Would it be a good idea to establish a landlord registry in Hamilton?On June 1 city staff are beginning consultations to assist in developing recommendations and an overview so that “City Council can make an informed decision on if or how rental housing should be regulated.”

Why this review could make a difference to tenantsSince 2007 Ontario municipalities have had the ability to enhance existing licensing. Some municipalities are starting to take advantage of this new power in order to address health, safety and property maintenance issues faced by tenants. Typically, such a registry would require landlords to obtain a licence and maintain their rental property and building in good condition.

New bylaw in LondonEarlier this year London, Ont. put in place an enforcement program focussing on addressing substandard housing conditions in areas of the city known for deficient housing conditions. A plan to cover the whole city is in the works. Considerable opposition to the London initiative came from property mangers and landlords. They argued that the regulation was another tax; municipalities already have the tools to inspect buildings; and that the cost of licensing fees will be passed down to the tenant.

Other places, other approachesOther cities like Ottawa are moving ahead with the backing of tenants’ groups.Toronto has gone in a different direction. Last year Ontario’s capital city launched a Multi-Residential Apartment Building Audit and enforcement program that will provide inspection and enforcement action on at least 176 of the City’s rental buildings in the first year o f a pilot project. Toronto is doing this audit with existing resources. A fee of $60 per hour will be charged to the building for each visit after the second inspection until an order is completed to meet bylaw or provincial requi rements. There are different approaches possible. It’s important though that tenant voices are heard. You can make input at the public information meetings and/or wade in here. More information can be found at www.hamilton.ca/rentalhousingreview

Photo taken from iangbl’s Flicker photostreamhttp://www.flickr.com/people/iangbl/

May 25, 2009

I last wrote about the dysfunction that is our federal Employment Insurance system in December. We’re now neck deep in the recession and there are 1.4 million workers unemployed in Canada… and still no serious efforts coming from the government to reform EI. According to the Canadian Labour Congress, only 43.09 per cent of unemployed Canadians are receiving EI regular benefits — those numbers are even lower in Ontario. In the recession in the early 1990s, on average, 80 per cent of unemployed Canadians received regular benefits.Even fewer people in Ontario can get access to EI because the system is set up regionally. So in areas where there have been historically lower unemployment rates such as Ontario and Alberta, workers have to work longer hours to qualify. On top of that, they receive benefits for a shorter period. If unemployed workers cannot get access to EI, they might have to divest almost every cent of savings (including RRSPs that aren’t locked in) before having to go on to welfare as the only income support program available. Today, Iggy (aka Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff) is threatening to bring down the minority Conservative government and forcing an election unless EI is fixed. Ignatieff has called for an immediate, temporary change that would make people eligible for EI benefits if they’ve worked 360 hours in the previous 52 weeks — regardless of where they live.Prime Minister Harper called the EI reforms that are being proposed “absurd”.The Liberals are talking tough now, but keep in mind — they could have asked for that change when the Harper government needed their support to pass the federal budget back in January. What do you think, is E.I. reform worth yet another federal election?

May 11, 2009

In my column in the May 12th Spectator, I discuss some local initiatives led by Food Share and others that are aiming to provide low income Hamiltonians with nutritious food. With concerns around the swine influenza growing, recommendations coming from our Public Health Department are to eat healthy and get exercise. Good advice, but sometimes difficult if a person lives on an extremely limited income, doesn’t live near a grocery store or isn’t able to obtain healthy food at a local food bank.When we don’t eat well our health is affected. As they say, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” A recent report on the social determinants of health was presented to the Board of Health a couple of weeks ago. In that report, researcher Suzanne Brown revealed that people living in poverty in Hamilton are nearly three times more likely to be hospitalized due to diabetes and 1.4 times more likely to have a low birth weight baby. Not only is that a heavy burden on the person whose health is affected — and their family — but there is also a cost to the community as well. Ward 4 Councillor Sam Merulla put forward a motion to do a cost-benefit analysis in Hamilton around how much poverty costs the City (the upfront investment versus downstream community and individual costs). The Ontario Association of Food Banks did a similar study for the province last fall with some startling results.Next Thursday, May 21, the Campaign for Adequate Welfare and Disability Benefits is holding a public forum on “Poverty and Health.” It runs from 1:30-4pm at First Pilgrim United Church at 200 Main Street East. It will be a good opportunity to discuss challenges related to poverty and health and look at ways of pushing this forward on the political agenda.

May 08, 2009

Around the water cooler at McQuesten Legal and Community Services, we can get into fairly animated conversations about the payday loan business. Words like “despicable” and “the worst manifestation of capitalism” are the kinder characterizations you’re likely to hear. Across North America, various payday loan companies have moved in to fill a void created by the big banks’ aversion to working within low-income communities. They’re everywhere. The Canadian Payday Loan Association (CPLA) represents 20 companies with 550 retail financial services outlets across Canada. According to their website, one of their member companies services nearly 2 million Canadians a year.

Class Action SettlementNow some good news for those who have been “serviced” by one of these firms. The Ontario Superior Court of Justice recently approved the settlement of a class action claim against the Cash Store. The claim was taken forward on behalf of Hamilton resident Thompson McCutcheon by a local law firm.According to Scarfone Hawkins, the settlement came about “due to the fact that the Cash Store charged extremely high brokerage fees.” People who had loans “will be able to get some of that money back.”The Cash Store will be paying out $1.5 million in cash and an additional $1.5 million in vouchers across the country (except in Alberta and British Columbia where there are separate lawsuits going on.) Also, according to a Court approved distribution plan, the Cash Store will spend at least $50,000 “to prepare and distribute written credit counseling materials promoting responsible financial habits/practices.”

Claim Forms must be SubmittedThe payday loan company — there are seven in Hamilton — was required to notify customers that they must complete and submit a claim form on or before June 30.More information on the class action and claim forms can be found at www.classactionlaw.ca and at the Housing Help Centre 210 Napier Street 905-526-8100. Provinces are beginning to regulate payday loan firms which is a good thing. A better idea would be regulations that ensure that banks worked in low-income communities. Then we’d see payday loan firms disappear.

Bob Wood is Community Development Co-ordinator at McQuesten Legal & Community Services. He was executive director of Hamilton’s Housing Help Centre for many years.

May 07, 2009

Yesterday, Bill 152 – The Poverty Reduction Act — was unanimously passed into legislation, committing the Province of Ontario to become a leading jurisdiction in Canada in poverty reduction efforts. Bill 152 was strengthened after public hearings in which many poverty networks, organizations and the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction presented their comments and suggestions to the Standing Committee on Social Policy. The Poverty Reduction Act will require this and successive governments to draft poverty reduction strategies with specific goals every five years, report by March 31 annually on their progress, and ensure that individuals living in poverty are involved in the consultation process. Many poverty advocacy organization hail Bill 152 as an important step forward for the province. But it is only the first step. Bill 152 and the Breaking the Cycle poverty reduction plan released in December 2008 provide promising solutions to enhance the lives of children and their families living in poverty. Executing these solutions will require a financial investment in people and communities. Hamilton has played an important role in the poverty reduction efforts in Ontario but our work is not done. We invite you to continue raising your voices about the issue of poverty reduction. On June 17th, Minister Deb Matthews will be a keynote speaker at the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction’s Report to the Community. To join us, call 905-523-5600 ext 222 or email us at hrpr@hcf.on.ca.